Rotary automatic shredding machine for tobacco leaves and the like



Jan. 14, 1958 A. BAGLIONI ,8

v ROTARY AUTOMATIC SHREDDING MACHINE FOR v TOBACCO LEAVES AND THE LIKEFiled Aug. 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [swin -n2 Jan. 14, 1958 A.BA'GLIO'NI ,8

ROTARY AUTOMATIC SHREDDING MACHINE FOR TOBACCO LEAVES AND THE LIKE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10. 1953 ,inubchr CLwMlLuJ-u i 1 United Statesatent-O ROTARY AUTOMATIC SHREDDING MACHINE FOR TOBACCO LEAVES AND THELIKE Amilcare Baglioni, Rome, Italy, assignor to S. A. S. I. B.-

S. p. A. Scipione Innocenti-Bologna, Bologna, Italy, an Italianjoint-stock company Application August 10, 1953, Serial No. 373,319

Claims priority, application Italy April 24, 1953 4 Claims. (Cl.146-118) This invention has for its object an improved rotary shreddingmachine, particularly for tobacco leaves.

The shredding machine according to the invention in cludes a shreddingunit comprising a rotary cutter head, on which cutters are rigidlyfastened and which slowly advances towards the outlet mouth for thetobacco to be shredded, and this in the same measure as the cutterbecomes worn out, this advancing being effected by means of a suitableautomatic screw control device, and also includes a sharpening unitcomprising a grinding wheel which sharpens the cutters during theiroperation and 4 follows automatically the advancing of the cutter head.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the following specification of a preferred embodiment shown by wayof non-limiting example on the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a rotary tobacco shredding machineconstructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial elevation from the opposite side of the machine;

Fig. 3 shows in section the compressing and shredding unit on anenlarged scale.

Fig. 4 shows in elevation with parts in section the advancing device forthe rotary cutter head on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 shows in section the fastening of the cutters to the cutter headon an enlarged scale.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the tobacco to be cut is assembled in ahopper 1 arranged within a machine frame ta and having a substantiallyvertical front wall, a swinging back wall constituted by rake 3 and anendless conveyor belt 2 forming the bottom thereof. From said hopper thetobacco while being compressed by two pairs of compressing rolls 4, 5and 6, 7 respectively, is fed forward through a mouthpiece 8 towards arotary cutting device mounted in front of said mouthpiece and laterfully described.

Each pair of said compressing rolls includes a lower roll 5 or 7 and anupper roll 4 or 6 respectively. The lower roll 5 supports the saidconveyor belt 2 and is mounted to cooperate not only with upper roll 4but also with the more closely. located upper roll 6 which again isstill closer to the lower roll 7. Thus the tobacco while being fedforward toward the mouthpiece 8 is subjected to three subsequent andincreasing compressions namely between rolls 45, 5-6, and 67,respectively. The opening in the mouthpiece 8 forms substantially acontinuation of the passageway between rolls 6 and 7 and is providedwith a yielding lip 108 (Fig. 3), preferably made of sheet metal, whichmaintains and regulates the pressure under which the tobacco is forcedthrough said mouthpiece.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the compressing rolls 4, 5, 6, 7 are driven byan electric motor 9, by means of a belt drive 10 which rotates a pulley110 keyed on shaft 11, on the opposite end of which a speed reducinggear 16 of any known type is arranged to drive said rolls byconventional transmission means not specifically shown in the drawing.

A hydraulic device 20 is connected through a small pipe 21 to thepressure gauge 22. The cylinder of this hydraulic device reacts againsta leaf spring 23.

The resistance of the rotation of compression rolls 6 and 7 istransformed into a corresponding axial thrust on a worm (not shown) andis transmitted through the hydraulic device 20 to the pressure gauge 22.

The said rolls 4, 5, 6, 7 have preferably substantially equal diametersand are rotated at such speeds to effect a uniform feed and aprogressively increasing compression of the tobacco. Advantageously thefinal compressing rolls 6, 7 are driven to rotate at equal speed whilecompressing rolls 4, 5 are drivento rotate at slightly higher speed,said speeds having for example a ratio of 32:26.

The cutting device mentioned above comprises a cutter head 27 rotatablymounted on shaft 127 in front of said mouthpiece 8 transverse to thedirection of feed of the tobacco. Said cutter head 27 which is rotatedby said motor 9 by means of pulley 28 and belt 29 (Fig. 2), is providedwith a plurality of equidistantly spaced cutters or blades 30 rigidlythough adjustably secured thereto and coextending with the dischargeopening of the mouthpiece 8. Said cutters are constituted by wide steelribbons or steel sheet blades and extend substantially in tangentialdirection out of cutter head 27 by about /2 inch or less. The cuttingedges of cutters 30 while rotating pass close in front of the dischargeopening of the mouthpiece '8 cutting the tobacco forced therethrough andin addition thereto contacting the rotating grinding wheel 31 thus beingcontinuously sharpened.

The cutters 30 may be secured in the head 27 in any customary mannerpreferably as illustrated in Fig. 5. As shown each cutter 30 is set in adeep slit 227 of head 27 and is held against a projecting lip thereof bya jaw 32 supported by a cross pin 33 and pressed against cutter 30 by aset screw 34 which is seated in a bracket 35 fastened to head 27.

The size of the portion of each cutter 30 extending from the slit 227 isadjusted by hand preferably with the aid of a lever 36 pivoted at 136 ateach side of the cutter head 27 and provided with abutments 236determining the position of the cutting edge of each cutter which ispulled out of its respective slit 227 until it contacts with its cuttingedge said abutment 236. Thereafter said levers 36 are swung back in anonobstructing position.

The cutter head 27 is encased in a housing 37 having in its bottom adischarge opening 38 for the shredded tobacco and in its front a cover39 swingable upwardly about pivot 139 to permit access to the cutterhead 27.

The cutters 30 are quite rapidly worn out during the continuous cuttingoperation. In order to compensate this wear and to maintain the cuttingedges of cutters 36 in operative position close in front of themouthpiece S, the cutter head 27 is mounted to slowly advance towardsthe mouthpiece 8. In the shown embodiment the shaft 127 of the cutterhead 27 is mounted in two swing arms 40 which are pivoted in the machineframe at 146 outside said casing 37 and permit the cutter head to beswung toward and away from said mouthpiece 8. The side walls of saidhousing 37 are provided with sufliciently wide manual control, .isrotatably connected to a non-rotatable link 4-6 which is adjustablyattached to a lever 47 radially connected to a cross shaft 48 mounted inthe machine frame. ":Fhe threaded spindle 44 may be-loeked to said link46 by frictional means including a -nut 49. Said .cross shaftwt-lfi .isprovided-at each end on eaohsideof-the machine with aneccentric 148cooperating with a strap 150 arranged at one end of aipushrod 50 whichwith its iotherendis articulatedito said swing arms-40.

My new machine operates as follows:

While the tmachinelis at rest the cutters30 are adjusted in the cutterhead '27 to proper cutting position andare secured therein .asdescribedabove. The fricton nut 49 connecting the threaded spindle 44 to :thelink 46 .is does- .ened and said spindle is .axially displaced byturning the vsame within the nut vt3 rbyrmpans of theihandwheel 144, inorder to bringthetcutters 30 in proper position in front of themonthpiece 18. This is effected. by .the =re treating spindle .44 .overthe glink .46, .arm 47, eccentric 1418, 150 and p sh nod 50 which swings:the arms .50 -.with the cuthead :27 toward the mouthpiece t8. Thereuponnut 9 is l k to rigidly rconneotttheispindle 44 with the link 46 and thefeeding and the compressing tollersil, 5, 6, 7 are driven :by motor 9;.-;The rotating shaft 10.4 of roller .4 turns the wormidl, whichagainturns nut .43 and eirects an axial displacement of spindle v latand consequently by t ac on .Q l Q 3I i 14 1. narrow displ ema o s d swn a ms ,4!) with the cutter head '27 towards e mou hp ece t, T e d greeof su h di placem nt may e e ulated by sh ft g the connection 1.4.6 of enk 46 t a m .4 a d uc regula on will be dependa 011 he expe ted ea o thecut r 5.0 during th din operation Whe the He head .27 has b en displacedtoward the mouthpiece into it nd pos tion, which is dete m ned y a no hon st pp n member friction o t 9 is being a m tica y loosened therebydeclut li ng the t e d d nd tram li k 44? and inte r pt ng any fu e atio n th sw n arm l and the cutter head 27 supported therein. Thepntters 3i) the putter head, which is p e en d from ny tu ne moveme ow dthe mouthpiece 8, are slowly i. e. in about one minute fully Worn outand hei lunted sui n das c se an Overload o t e elect ic m to 9, whi h iStopped by conventional safety devices,

F l w n th toppa e o the mach ne t e cu te b ad ,2 is s n'm s a a fromth u i ic e 8 .by tu nins e ,har dwll e wt? :1 b is g e sc ew sp nd e 4in'its initial position, The cr tters are thereupon re-j u ted nto ro ertut 2s P s tion urea the h ad 2 whe eupo the iuretics descr bed time isrepe te T 's r n i whe at tu le cutt r foll h u e hea 27 du ng it d sacem nt re ativ t the mw pie c a dsf ndi g les .3 is o a ab y mou ted ina strong hood 51 which at 52 is swingably attached to the cover 39 andis hinged to a least one of the swing arms 49 by a link member 55located eccentrically to said fulcrum 52. The length of said link member53 and also i point o c m nt to the sw'ng rm 40 are a jus so that theposition of the grind ng wheel 31 relative to the cutters 39 ma be pperly fix d and a so n order to Pe a Change f ht f 1 f he r nding whe l,31 n accordance with the wear of the cr tters 30.

Grinding e 31. is made re erabl as a q l dtic l block ith s ax Par ll lto a 7 t cutter h ad 2 and is driven preferably in the direction as thislatter by co-axial electric motor 54 directly coupled and fastenedlaterally on hood S1 A grinding-wheel rectifier 55 shiftably mounted insuitable guides on hood 51 permits of periodically rectifying grindingwheel 31.

Inclined rake 3, swinging away and towards the mouth of the compressingunits 4m 7 and which, together with the opposite wall of loading box 1constitutes a vertical burner n l d y outer swin ing lever 56. keyed toa ha of t ke 3- A. ert c l sw nging lev r- 57 co s s with pulling spring59 through free horizontal prop 60.

4 t This latter is carried by balance lever -61 -fulcrumed --to lever 56eccentrically of axis of prop 60. Balance lever 61 coacts with anadjustable abutment member 62 which at the end of the stroke of rake 3,towards the intake of the compressing units, abuts against balance lever61 which is compelled to assume such ,a position ..(.generally avertical position) in which it keeps prop -'hQrfizontal.

Of course the invention is not limited to the embodiment just describedand shown, :but it may be :arnply varied and modified, particularly asregards the construction of the rotary cutting head, of the'grintlingunit, and the compressing unit, as well as of ,the devices,for the rigid fitting of the cutters on the cutter head and of theautomatic loading devices, and this without departing from the basicprinciple oftlte invention as set out in the present specification andin the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of thetype desoribedft'or cutting leaf tobacco orsimilar material 'the improvement comprising in combination a machineframe, a mouth piece or other .dischar-ge member arranged within saidframe for feed ing said material to be cut; a cutter head rotatablymounted in front of said mouthpiece; a plurality of cutters rigidlythough 'adjustably mounted thereupon; a support for said rotatablecutter head displaceab'ly mounted upon said machine frame to move thecutter head relative to the mouthpiece; driving means 'in said framecontinuously effecting such displacement of said support in accordancewith the progressive wear of the cutters during their operation; agrinding wheel for the cutters, the width of the wheel substantiallyconforming to the length of the cutters; a support for the grindingwheel displaceably mounted upon the machine frame; and an adjustablelink connecting said support for the grinding wheel and said support forthe cutter head to hold said grinding wheel in operative positionrelative to the cutters of the cutter head while the same is beingdisplaced towards themouthpiece.

2. In a machine of the type described for cutting leaf tobacco orsimilar material the improvement comprising in combination, a machineframe; a mouthpiece or other discharge member arranged within said framefor'feeding said material to be cut; a rotatable cutter head rotatablymounted in front of said mouthpiece; a plurality of cutters rigidlythough adjustably'mounted thereupon; a swingable support for saidrotatable cutter head mounted upon said machine frame and adapted tomove the cutter head with the cutters relative to the mouthpiece; meanscontinuously effecting a swing movement of said support towards saidmouthpiece in accordance with the progressive wear of the cutters duringtheir operation; a grinding wheel for the cutters, the width of saidwheel substantially conforming to the length of the cutters; a supportfor the grinding wheel swingably mounted upon the machine frame; and anadjustable link connecting said support for the grinding wheel and saidsupport for the cutter head to hold said grinding wheel in operativeposition relative to the cutters while the cutter head is beingdisplaced towards the mouthpiece.

3. A machine for cutting leaf tobacco or the like according to claim 1,wherein the means continuously effecting the displacement of the cutterhead comprise a screw spindle; a rotatable nut stationary mounted uponthe machine frame to cooperate with said screw spindle and to effect acontinuous displacement thereof in axial direction during the cuttingoperation; means to rotate said nut; and adjustable means transferringsaid axial movement of said screw spindle upon the displaceable supportfor the cutter head to move the same towards the mouthpiece.

4. A machine for cutting leaf tobacco or the like according to claim 1,wherein the means continuously effecting the displacement of the cutterhead comprise a cross shaft mounted in the machine frame and aneccentrip on said shaft; an adjustable eccentric rod operated 5 by saideccentric and connected with its free end to the References Cited in thefile of this patent support of theficutter head; a radial lever integralwith UNITED STATES PATENTS sai shaft to e ect its angular dipslacement;a link member adjustably mounted upon said radial lever; a screw f; iggggg g spindle rotatably attached to said link member; fric- 5 1550592strisckler Aug 1925 tional means adapted to temporarily fasten saidscrew 1558613 ggg; 5 spindle to said link member in order to prevent itsrota- 1:933:181 Moll-n8 et a1 Oct, 31: 1933 tion; and means effecting acontinuous displacement of 2,464,396 Schreiber 22, 1949 the screwspindle in axial direction during the cutting 10 2,612,974 Krause Oct.7, 1952 operation and while said frictional means are operative.2,763,307 Schreiber Sept. 18, 1956

